Worker Rights Intern

Organizational Background

Founded over 50 years ago, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) is a pioneering coalition of over 300 socially responsible institutional investors including faith-based communities, labor unions, foundations, asset managers, and others who leverage their investments to hold corporations accountable for the social and environmental impacts of their operations. Our membership collectively represents over $4 trillion in invested capital.

ICCR members and staff engage hundreds of multinational corporations annually to promote more sustainable and just practices because we believe that, in doing so, companies will secure a better future for their employees, their customers, and their shareholders. We do this through ongoing engagement and dialogue with corporate management on a range of social and environmental issues that impact communities in the U.S. and globally, as well as by filing shareholder proposals, which are publicly presented at companies’ shareholder meetings.

With a racial justice and worker centered lens, ICCR has newly launched a program on worker rights with a focus on essential workers. In this work, ICCR members will push corporations to examine their current business strategies and the impact it has on the rights of workers to a livable wage, right to a safe workplace, the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining among other issues.

Position Summary

ICCR is seeking candidates for an internship on worker rights. The Intern will assist the Senior Director and Associate Director with research to support the rollout of the 2025 shareholder strategy to engage various sectors (including restaurant, retail, hospitality, meat producers, and gig) in the service of helping socially responsible shareholders engage companies regarding worker rights. Potential themes include paid sick leave, living wage, freedom of association and collective bargaining, worker health and safety, temporary workforce and gig workforce issues, etc. Ultimately, the Intern will develop materials critical to ensuring that ICCR members are well prepared to engage with companies and file shareholder resolutions on these subjects, by: 

·       Conducting research on key issues and companies to inform engagements. Tasks will include reading and analyzing company documents, press articles, and third-party reports to evaluate companies’ management of worker rights related issues.

·       Contacting community, environmental, labor and other public interest organizations that analyze the social and environmental records of companies.

·       Drafting issue briefs, backgrounders and company profiles.

·       Developing resources (talking points, engagement questions, etc.) to ensure consistency in member engagement across companies.

·       Participating in company and NGO engagements

·       Presenting research to program staff and investors (members of ICCR)

The internship period is 10 weeks, scheduled to run from June through August, with the possibility of extension. Applicants for the Summer Internship should be able to commit 20 hours per week on average, with flexibility (some East Coast business hours preferred). Interns will receive a stipend of $5,000 for the entire 10-week period.

Benefits for Interns

The Intern will make a tremendous contribution to the important work of an organization that helped to found and continues to shape the corporate social responsibility movement. The Intern will learn from seasoned practitioners about the importance of shareholder activism and documenting company progress, as well as the regulatory environment and its impact on sustainability issues. Where possible, Interns will be given the opportunity to engage with ICCR program staff (such as attending program/staff meetings and conference calls with ICCR members) to gain a better understanding of the issues and the field of corporate social responsibility.

Qualifications

•      Students are welcome from a wide range of academic programs and geographies. Experience and knowledge of worker rights/labor rights and familiarity with corporate social responsibility is preferred.

•      Excellent research skills with the ability to organize & synthesize information effectively.

•      Must be self-motivated, and able to work independently. 

•      Attention to detail, organized, methodical, and possess strong time management skills

•      Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Your application should include

•      A cover letter identifying your qualifications, interests and strengths, as well as your available start and likely end dates.

•      Please explain any sustainability-related career goals, if available, and what you most want to learn or glean from the Internship experience.

•      A writing sample.

•      Two references (name, email address, and organization)

Application

Please send a resume and cover letter together in one PDF file to: Esaba Hoque, Senior Program Associate at internships@iccr.org